Aleppo

A former al-Qaida affiliate and their allies are now poised to besiege the government-held side of the divided city, which could impact more than a million civilians.

They also say they'll grant amnesty to fighters who lay down their weapons. But big questions remain. One civilian resident told NPR he tried to use one of the corridors but feared ongoing shelling.

Losing this crucial supply line means that rebel-held areas of the Syrian city are completely cut off. Now, supplies are dwindling and activists are sounding alarms about a humanitarian crisis.

Only civilians fleeing violence were staying in the targeted camp, activists say. Only the Syrian regime and its allies conduct airstrikes in the area.

The U.S. has said it is working with Russia to restore cessation of hostilities in the city. This comes after days of intense fighting in the area.

The destruction of a hospital in Aleppo is part of a disturbing trend. And it's not just happening in Syria.

Big questions remain about what this will actually mean on the ground in a country torn apart by five years of war.

The push by Syrian government forces and their allies in the northern city of Aleppo has also displaced some 51,000 civilians since the beginning of last week, according to the U.N.

The Russian airstrikes have emboldened President Bashar Assad's army to press a major offensive in a crucial city. Thousands of civilians have fled and are massing at the nearby Turkish border.